Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for NH 754K Expansion in Gujarat

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued Notification S.O. 3699(E) on August 13, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for the development of National Highway 754K. This notification, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), finalizes the process initiated by an earlier notification, S.O. 3525(E), dated August 20, 2024. The previous notification, issued under sub-section (1) of section 3A of the National Highway Act, 1956 (48 of 1956), had expressed the Central Government's intention to acquire land for the building, maintenance, management, and operation of NH 754K. The project involves widening, constructing two lanes with paved shoulders, or four-laning a stretch of the highway from Km. 0.000 to Km. 54.400 within the KACHCHH district of Gujarat.

Following the initial declaration of intent, the substance of the notification was published in local newspapers, Kuchchhmitra and Times of India, on August 25, 2024, as required by sub-section (3) of section 3A of the said Act. Subsequently, the Competent Authority received and appropriately settled objections filed under Section 3C of the Act. After due consideration, the Competent Authority submitted its report to the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 3D of the Act. Upon receipt of this report, the Central Government, exercising its powers under sub-section (1) of section 3D of the National Highway Act, 1956, declared that the land specified in the annexed Schedule should be acquired for the stated purpose. The notification further stipulated that, in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 3D of the Act, upon its publication in the Official Gazette, the land detailed in the Schedule shall vest absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances. This legal vesting ensures that the land becomes the property of the Central Government without any prior claims or liabilities, facilitating the immediate commencement of highway development. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby declares that on publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the land specified in the said Schedule shall vest absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances.”

The legislative intent behind this notification is to advance critical infrastructure development, specifically the expansion and modernization of national highways across the country. The National Highway Act, 1956, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, enabling the government to secure land necessary for projects of national importance. This particular action addresses the need for improved connectivity and transportation infrastructure along the NH 754K corridor in Gujarat, which is crucial for economic growth and regional integration. The earlier legal position involved a preliminary declaration of intent, allowing for public input and the resolution of objections from affected parties, primarily landowners. This notification signifies the culmination of that process, moving from a declared intention to a legally binding acquisition. The process ensures that statutory gaps related to land ownership and transfer are addressed, providing a clear mechanism for the government to take possession of the required land. The Schedule appended to the notification meticulously lists various parcels of private and government agricultural land, along with the names of land owners or interested persons, totaling 14.6419 hectares across villages like Chhuger, Gaduli, and Lakhapar in the KACHCHH district. This detailed enumeration ensures transparency and precision in the acquisition process, which is a fundamental aspect of land acquisition laws in India.

Keywords: National Highway Act, 1956, land acquisition, NH 754K, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Gujarat, KACHCHH, infrastructure development, notification, Central Government
Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: KACHCHH